Mitchell "Mitch" Lee Carter

Mitchell “Mitch” Lee Carter, 66, of Palestine, IL (formerly of Mattoon), passed away on October 20, 2025, at home, surrounded by the comfort of his own four walls — and probably a few of his favorite stories still hanging in the air.

Mitch grew up in Mattoon, where he graduated with the Class of ’77 and learned early that a good day’s work and a good laugh could take you pretty far. He worked for the IC Railroad and Cobbs Construction before finding his groove with the Indiana Railroad, where he spent most of his career. The railroad suited him: the travel, the people, the freedom, the stories. Even after his health forced him to retire in 2013, the stories didn’t stop; they just got a little taller every time he told them.

Time away from work often found Mitch at the river, be that boating, fishing, hanging out at the sandbar, or freezing half to death every New Year’s Day for the Polar Plunge. He was the guy who could turn any ordinary day into a story worth telling. He loved a cookout — the skillet sizzling, the smell of gumbo or chili in the air, friends gathered close, waiting for their turn with a bowl.

Mitch never met a stranger. He could talk to anyone, anywhere, and before long, you’d be laughing right along with him. He had that easygoing charm that made life feel a little brighter — though sometimes you needed an interpreter. After all, Mitch also had his own vocabulary. You had to spend enough time around him to learn what half of it meant, but once you did, it just became part of the language.

He was funny and stubborn and knew exactly how to push your buttons, mostly because it cracked him up to see you flustered. And if you told him something couldn’t be done, he’d grin and do it anyway. (Ask his doctors; they learned quick not to bet against him.) But under all that orneriness was a huge heart. If he loved you, he’d do anything for you.

If you knew Mitch, you know he lived it up while he was here. He made life more fun, more unpredictable, and a whole lot more colorful. And if he could leave us with one last piece of wisdom, it would be the words he always said when life got rough; words that somehow said everything we needed to hear:

“It’ll be a’ight.”

He’s survived by his wife, Cindy Carter of Palestine; his daughter, Jennifer (Morris) Sparr and granddaughter, Alexis Sparr, both of Naples, FL; his stepson, Kotah Heggie of Palestine; his parents, Austin “A.L.” and Jeanie Carter of Mattoon; and his brother, Michael (Patty) Carter of Mattoon. He was preceded in death by his son, Colt William Carter.

Per his request, no formal services will be held to honor his life, as he would rather everyone remember him in their own special way. The Goodwine Funeral Home in Palestine is assisting the family at this time.